'Silent Sam' Protest: 7 Arrests In 'Highly Charged' Demonstration

CHAPEL HILL, NC — A protest at the site of the University of North Carolina's "Silent Sam" Confederate statue that was brought down by angry demonstrators earlier this week led to the arrest of seven people, none of whom were affiliated with the university.

Since Monday, a total of 11 arrests were made in connection with events surrounding the statue, according to university chancellor Carol Folt. Three people are facing charges in connection with the statue being toppled down and another arrest was made on Monday, Folt said.

About 100 protesters, both those who oppose the statue and those who support it, gathered at McCorkle Place Saturday. In a statement, the university described the protest as "highly charged" and said it was grateful there were no serious injuries. Among the groups that gathered at the university Saturday were pro-Confederate groups who were seen waving Confederate flags at the rally.

According to reporters from the scene at the rally, video captured a Confederate supporter punching a counter-protester in the face.

Folt said the university is preparing for additional demonstrations being planned. She acknowledged that the monument is a flashpoint and will continue to be a lightning rod.

On Friday, a member of the UNC system's board of governors said the statue would be reinstalled within 90 days.

Thom Goolsby, the board of governors member who said the statue would be reinstalled, referred to the protesters who took down the statue as a "violent mob."

"We will not allow anarchy to reign on our campuses," Goolsby said in a video message.

The university had urged students not to attend Saturday's rally, saying in a statement that it did not know for sure what groups may attend. In the statement, the university said it was mindful that "the current atmosphere is highly charged" and "protests that begin peacefully do not always remain this way."

Chapel Hill police said no permits had been issued or requested for any events in the downtown area.

According to UNC's media relations division, seven arrests were made at the protest as of 1 p.m. Three arrests were for assault, two arrests were for assault, destruction of property and inciting a riot, one arrest was made for destruction of property and another was made for resisting an officer.

(Warning: Some of the media below contains graphic scenes)

Kimberly Johnson contributed to this report.

Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images News/Getty Images